Competition Law: Foundations and Challenges

Overview

Course type: Summer School
Location: Bentham House, London
Dates: 30 June - 11 July
Duration: 2 weeks
Fees: See below - early bird rates apply until 31 December 2024.

Course overview

Looking for a way to level up your summer and explore the world of law? Our summer school course is designed to give you a solid grounding in EU and UK competition law while addressing the key challenges shaping the field today. This course will explore how competition law maintains fair markets, with a strong focus on modern issues like sustainability, privacy, and the impact of digital technologies. You’ll also dive into the frameworks that guide competition law enforcement, comparing EU and UK approaches with US systems.

Through in-depth analysis, you’ll uncover some of the most pressing issues facing competition authorities today, such as the regulation of digital markets, the sharing economy, and the challenges posed by sustainability initiatives. With real-world case studies and expert guidance, this course will equip you with the skills to understand, apply, and critique competition law, preparing you for the rapidly evolving legal landscape.

Key information

Entry Requirements

A minimum of 18 years old at the time of study 
A level BBB or equivalent if you have completed school
A 2.1 average or 3.3 GPA or equivalent If you are currently studying at or have completed University
If you are a non-native English speaker, IELTS 7.0 or above, with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

Fees

Standard rate: £3,250 | Early bird rate: £2925
Student / Public sector / charity / not-for-profit organisations: £2,250 | Early bird rate: £2,025
UCL Laws alumni rate: £2,750 | Early bird rate: £2475
Early bird rates apply if you sign up by 31 December 2024.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

Grasp key terms and concepts within competition law and policy.
Understand how EU and UK competition laws work, and how they compare to US regulations.
Explore how modern challenges like digital markets, sustainability, and the sharing economy are reshaping competition law.
Learn how competition law is enforced, from public and private legal actions to criminal cases.
Develop a critical understanding of how today’s digital economy is regulated.

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at students and graduates who are interested in developing an overview of competition law and an understanding of the major trends and challenges in this area of law. It’s perfect for those who want to understand how competition rules are applied across different regions and sectors, from tech giants to green industries. It may also appeal to persons considering a future in law and wanting to explore how legal frameworks impact industries.

Content

Key topics

Week one

Introduction to Competition Law: Legal & Economic Foundations
Institutions, Public and Private enforcement
Introduction to Article 102 TFEU - Dominance and Abuse
Abuse of Dominance: Excessive pricing, predation, exclusive dealing
Abuse of Dominance: Refusal to supply, margin squeeze, tying
Regulating the Digital Economy

Week two

Introduction to Article 101 TFEU
The Object v Effects bifurcation
Article 101 TFEU and the twin, digital and green, transition (workers in the gig economy, private sustainability initiatives, e-commerce restraints)
Merger Control: Substantive and Procedural Matters
Assessment of Horizontal and non-horizontal mergers
Digital mergers and new theories of harm

Course structure and assessments

Students will receive 4.5 hours per day of taught classes, amounting to 45 hours in total over the two weeks. Students are expected to complete 40 hours of additional study across the two weeks.

The summative assessment for the course will consist of a 1,500 word essay.

Students will receive a Certificate of Completion provided that they attend at least 75% of classes and achieve a pass on the summative assessment.

Teaching Staff

Stavros Makris, Lecturer in Law
Stavros is a Lecturer in Competition Law at UCL, joining in September 2024. He previously taught EU Competition Law and US Antitrust at Glasgow University, LSE, Wageningen University, and Sciences Po Paris. Stavros holds a law degree and a Master in Philosophy of Law from the University of Athens, and an LLM from UCL. He completed his PhD at the European University Institute (EUI). Stavros has advised the Hellenic Competition Commission and peer-reviewed for leading competition law journals.

Ioannis Lianos, Professor of Global Competition Law and Public Policy
Ioannis is Chair of Global Competition Law and Public Policy at UCL and a member of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal since 2024. He was President of the Hellenic Competition Commission (2019-2024) and chaired the Special Law Commission, leading to Greece’s 2022 competition law reform. Elected to the OECD Competition Committee Bureau (2021-2023), he also advises governments on competition and IP law. Lianos is the founding director of UCL’s Centre for Law, Economics and Society, edits major legal publications, and has held visiting professorships at top universities, including Sciences Po and NYU.

Despoina Mantzari, Associate Professor in Competition Law and Policy
Despoina (Deni) is Associate Professor of Competition Law and Policy at UCL, co-directing the Centre for Law, Economics and Society. She holds a PhD and LL.M. from UCL and a law degree from the National University of Athens. Previously a lecturer at the University of Reading, her research spans competition law, behavioral economics, and regulatory discretion. She is an editor for key legal journals, general editor of LexisNexis’ *Competition Law of the European Union*, and author of a monograph on courts and economic evidence published by Oxford University Press.